What is the meaning of Mark 14:33? He took with Him • Jesus does not go alone into Gethsemane. Just as in Mark 5:37 He allowed only a few to witness Jairus’s daughter raised, and in Matthew 17:1 He led the same three up the Mount of Transfiguration, here He again draws a small group close. • The Lord deliberately models intimate discipleship—inviting trusted followers to observe His most profound moments. Exodus 24:13 pictures Moses ascending the mountain with Joshua; likewise, Jesus signals that the coming struggle requires reliable witnesses. • By taking companions, He demonstrates both genuine humanity—desiring fellowship—and purposeful preparation, ensuring that the future leaders of the church would testify accurately to what they saw. Peter, James, and John • These three form the inner circle (Mark 3:16-17). Their experiences with Christ become foundational for the early church: – Peter later recounts their eyewitness account of Christ’s majesty (2 Peter 1:16-18). – James, the first apostolic martyr (Acts 12:2), is strengthened beforehand by observing Jesus’ resolve. – John, the “beloved disciple,” bears lifelong witness (John 19:26-27; Revelation 1:9). • Galatians 2:9 calls them “pillars,” showing God’s intentional training of leaders through firsthand exposure to both glory and suffering. and began • The word “began” marks a turning point. Up to this night Jesus had spoken of His hour; now the hour starts (John 18:1). • Luke 22:41-44 parallels the scene, emphasizing the moment when anticipation becomes anguish. Hebrews 5:7 looks back on these prayers “with loud cries and tears,” highlighting the conscious entry of the Savior into the climactic ordeal. to be deeply troubled • “My soul is troubled,” Jesus had said earlier (John 12:27). In Gethsemane the trouble overwhelms. Isaiah 53:3-4 foretold the Man of Sorrows bearing grief; Psalm 42:6 echoes the inner disquiet of a righteous sufferer. • This distress is not weakness but willingness: He perceives the full cup of divine wrath (Mark 14:36). Because He feels it, Hebrews 4:15 assures us He can sympathize with every anxiety we face. and distressed • Matthew 26:38 records His own words: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” The weight is mortal, yet He presses on. • 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains why: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us.” The anguish flows from the impending imputation of our guilt. • Even righteous Lot was “distressed” by lawless deeds around him (2 Peter 2:7); how much more the sinless Christ when about to bear the world’s iniquity. summary Mark 14:33 shows Jesus purposefully drawing close companions into the garden, then entering visible, intense anguish. By selecting Peter, James, and John, He provides reliable witnesses and models intimate fellowship. By beginning to be troubled and distressed, He reveals both authentic humanity and redemptive determination, embracing the full sorrow of the cross for our salvation. |
    |